Material transfer apparatus



Sept. 3, 193 5..

E. W. LANGENBERG MATERIAL TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Jan 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 P 1935- E. w. LANGENBERG 2,013,215

MATERIAL TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 %rf "r Sept. 3, 1935. E. w. LANGENBERG MATERIAL TRANSFER APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 193.4

IN '5':- E nrma Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES Z,M3,Z15

PATENT OFFICE stone Steel & Wire Company, Peoria, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application January 5, 1934, Serial No. 705,334

11 Claims.

This invention has. reference to a material transfer apparatus, which has for its principal object the transfer, from one point to another, of liquids, as for examp1e-molten lead, zinc, sulphur, etc., at elevated temperatures.

The invention has for a further object the transfer of any such liquids, at elevated temperatures, without the application of additional heat during the time of transfer, whereby a minimum of heat of the material is lost during its transfer.

The invention has for a still further object to employ a cup conveyor for the transfer of the material, including an arrangement for readily and accurately adjusting the descent of the conveyor into the container or vessel to be emptied, whereby it is unnecessary toimmerse any of the moving parts of the apparatus in the material, except the cups themselves.

A further object is to so design the conveyor cups and to so locate and arrange the point of discharge of the material from the cups, that the pouring of the material is accomplished with a minimum splash.

By the use of a transfer apparatus, such as I disclose, the transfer of hot metals, as for examplemolten lead, zinc, sulphur, etc., can be accomplished with minimum danger to the operator and with greater rapidity than has been possible with previous known methods of handling such materials, either manually with a shovel or spoon or with a siphon, as has been the practice. My apparatus, therefore, is designed and is particularly adapted, although not necessarily limited in its use, to the transfer of molten metals, at elevated temperatures. To the accomplishment of this end I have provided an improved, simple, compact, portable and self-contained apparatus of this character which is adapted to be located on a tank containing the material to be transferred, to a mold, vessel or other receptacle.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved transfer apparatus, in operative position, using a zinc pan for illustrative purpose and also showing a mold in position to receive material;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that the conveyor has been retracted into inoperative position, ready for transporting, the mold is omitted and part of the apparatus is broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2, looking at the right hand end of the latter figure; I

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic detail view, illustrating in several steps, the retrograde motion imparted to the pouring lips of the successive cups, at the start of pouring and during the continued pouring;

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation showing a section of the conveyor chain and cups on top of one of the horizontal guides;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 6'5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation showing a section of the descending portion of the chain and cups, when in operative position in a vessel or tank and a removable guide therefor to prevent swaying;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is a cross-section, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The frame support The frame comprises two parallel spaced channel-beams i, which are connected and braced by the rear cross-channel-beam 2, the intermediate cross-channel-ibeam 3 and front cross-angle-beam i. These elements, united, constitute the base frame of the apparatus from which are supported the superframe structure and operative parts of the apparatus. Upstanding from the beams l and at properly spaced points are perpendicular angle-beams 5 and 6, and extending forwardly and upwardly from the beams l are angle-beams l which terminate approximately in the same horizontal plane with the upper ends of the beams 5 and t. On the beams 5 and 7, respectively, is mounted a guiding frame and housing. Said guiding frame consists of pairs of spaced upper and lower guiding beams or rails 8 and 9, which extend from a point just forward of the ends of beams i to a point just to the rear of beams 5. The front ends of each set of beams or rails 8 and 9 are connected to a preferably open rectangular housing H). The rear ends of each set of beams or rails 8 and 9 are connected, as at H. Extending rearwardly from each beam or rail 9 and for a suitable distance are beams 12. These beams, intermediate their lengths, are connected and braced by means of a cross-brace l3, and H5 is a cross-plate supported on and secured to the beams l2 and extends from the cross-brace 53 to the rear ends of the beams l2 and provides a support for a suitable power unit, to be described. Interposed between and having a slidable relation with each of the upper and lower beams or rails 8 and 9 is a bearing plate i5, see Figs. 1, 2 and 9, and in each of said plates is journaled the opposite ends of a cross-shaft I6, which has secured on its opposite ends, inside the sets of beams or rails 3 and 9, the sprocket wheels if. I have included the plates l5 as a part of the frame structure, inasmuch as they are tied in with the frame, although essentially a part of the conveyor structure. The frame includes, in addition two short supporting crosspieces [8 and if). The former supported by the cross-beam l and the latter supported from the cross-beam 3 and both serving as front and rear supports and braces for a preferably stationary trough 2i) and which is inclined slightly downward from rear to front. The sides of this trough, as shown in Fig. 3, are inclined slightly downwardly and inwardly and then terminate in converging walls forming a substantially V- shaped bottom. The front end of the trough 2B communicates with and empties into the rear end of a preferably swiveled trough 2|, it having a suitable swiveled connection with the cross-piece l8. This trough has preferably sloping side walls and bottom and the front end of said trough is adjustably supported by a fastening-as for example a chain 22, one end adapted for connection with a hook 23 on the housing l d and its opposite end connected to a cross-brace 24 secured to the trough 2| near its outer end. While these troughs are not essentially a frame structure, but rather relate to the transferring means they have a more or less fixed relation to the frame.

The conveyor I have previously referred to the sprocket wheels ll, their shaft l8 and the slidable bearing plates l5 in which the opposite ends of the shaft are journaled. These sprocket wheels form elements in the conveyor. Additional sets of sprocket wheels are designated 25, 26 and 27. The set designated 25 are carried on or near the opposite ends of a cross shaft 28 journaled in suitable bearing brackets 29 supported by the connections H, extending between and connecting the sets of beams or rails 8 and 9. The set designated 26 are floating sprocket wheels, as will be apparent and they are secured on opposite ends of a floating shaft 38. The last mentioned set of sprocket wheels 21 are idler spockets, each carried by a short shaft 3| journaled in suitable supporting bearings 32 secured respectively to the upstanding beams 5. All of the herein described sprocket wheels are substantially alike and are adapted to be engaged by a suitable twostrand chain. In other words, there are two parallel strands of chain 33 of suitable design and suitably connected links, one such chain travelling over or around a respective set of sprocket wheels l'i, 25, 26 and 2?, as will be understood. Spanning the space between the chains and located at suitable and predetermined points are dip-buckets 34. These buckets are preferably supported outside and away from the chains so that the center of gravity of the material, in the cups, when loaded is spaced away from the chains and also from the pitch line of the chains, in contradistinction to cups which have their center of gravity coincident with the pitch line of the chains or secured between the chains. I accomplish this by providing certain of the links of each chain with laterally and inwardly extending ears, lips or brackets 35 on which rest and to which are secured the rear walls of the buckets 36. These buckets, each have preferably rounded bottoms, as shown, with an upwardly slanting front wall, terminating a suitable distance short of the height of their rear wall, so that the upper edges of the side walls slant downwardly and outwardly, when viewing the buckets, in what would be their elevating positions. The links of the chains, which are provided with the ears, lips or brackets 35, are preferably further provided with somewhat similar ears, lips or brackets 36 which extend outwardly and laterally from the chain and during the return run of the chain normally ride on plates 3?, see Fig. 9, connected with and extending longitudinally of the lower beams or rails 9. The forward ends of these plates, although not shown, may be bent or curved slightly downwardly to facilitate the easy guiding of these ears, lips or brackets onto such plates, as the links of the chain leave the sprocket wheels 2?, as will be understood. Also, when the floating sprocket wheels 25 with the chains 33 and cups 34 have been lowered into a pan or vessel for removing material therefrom, I prefer that both the descending and ascending portions of these chains shall be guided and kept within limits so as to prevent swaying. This I accomplish, by the provision of removable guides 38 and 39. The former are secured to and suspended from beams l on the outside of the descending portion of the chains and the latter secured to and suspended from beams l on the outside of the ascending portion of the chains. Such guides have surfaces against which the outer surfaces of the ears, lips or brackets 36 bear, as shown in Fig. 1, as the chains descend and ascend. The ends of these guides are curved outwardly, as at 4!} to facilitate the traverse of the ears, lips or brackets onto and against these guides. Such guides are dispensed with during the early stages of dipping of the material from a pan or vessel and when the conveyor is partially lowered into such a pan or vessel. Chain guiding plates are also employed for the upper run of the chains to prevent sagging of said upper run, or at least to absorb practically all sagging, should there be any such; although I recognize that some sag is not undesirable. I provide two sets of such guides, one a permanent set and the other a removable set. The permanent set are designated 4|, see Figs. 1 and 2, and are secured to the upper beams or rails 8, extending forward a suitable distance from the rear ends of such beams or rails with their forward ends curved slightly downwardly to facilitate the easy traverse of the ears, lips or brackets 36 of the chains thereonto. The removable set of guides are designated d2, see Figs. 2 and 9, and are also secured to the upper beams or rails 8, and when in place, their rear ends are in close proximity to the forward end of the guides 6i and extend forward therefrom a suitable distance, their forward ends being curved slightly downwardly to facilitate the easy traverse of the ears, lips or brackets 36 of the chains thereonto. In the position in which the conveyor is shown in Fig. 2, and when the floating sprocket wheels 26 are somewhat lower and in a position to begin scooping material out of a pan or vessel, these guides 42 are used, but when the conveyor is in the position shown in Fig. 1 and in approximate positions the guides 32 are removed, as is shown in Fig. 1. The guides M and 42 are affixed to the upper surface of the beams or rails 8, as is best seen in Fig. 9 and they each are of sufficient width, extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the beams or rails 8, to lie in the path of the moving ears, lips or brackets 38 on the chains 33, as shown.

Power unit and power transmitting means This unit preferably includes an electric motor 43 supported by the support M, see Figs. 1 and 2. The driving means from the motor to the driving or operating shaft 28 of the conveyor includes certain speed reduction elements to be referred to. On the motor shaft is a driving pinion ill operating a link belt 45 which in turn engages and operates a somewhat larger driven wheel d6 carried on a shaft 41 journaled in brackets mounted on the upstanding beams 6. On this shaft 47 is carried a much smaller pinion d8 operating a link belt 49 which in turn engages and operates a somewhat larger driven wheel 56 on the conveyor shaft 28.

Conveyor depth control The means or mechanism for controlling or regulating the depth of the conveyor in a pan or vessel, for removing material therefrom, and for raising the vertical run of the conveyor into a compact form, to permit transporting or moving of the device, is mounted on or within the housing it) and arranged for manual manipulation or control. Connecting the two bearing plates is a yoke 5i and pivotally fastened to this yoke is a coupling 52 to which is connected a cable or flexible member 53 arranged to be taken up by, or on, and released from a drum 54 carried on a shaft 55 journaled in suitable bearings in the housing iii. On this shaft is also carried a gear wheel 56 meshing with a smaller pinion El on a shaft, also journaled in the housing and having connected to one end thereof a crank 58 for actuating the shaft 555 through the gearing referred to. On the shaft as there is also carried a ratchet wheel '59 adapted to be engaged and controlled by a ratchet pawl 68 pivoted to the housing to, as shown. Through the gearing and ratchet means de scribed, and also the crank 58 an attendant or operator has full control over the descent of the vertical leg portion of the conveyor into a pan or other receptacle and the removal of the conveyor therefrom, opposite positions of the conveyor being clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Function and use of the apparatus In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have shown the apparatus as having been placed on preferably a spelter pan A. In Fig. 2 the conveyor has been retracted, into a compact form, to permit the placement of the apparatus on such a pan preparatory to lowering the vertical leg of the conveyor to begin the dipping out of the pan of the material, as for example molten zinc, and to transfer the same into some suitable receptacle, as for example in Fig. 1 into a mold B. Fig. 2 illustrates the position of the elements just prior to the conveyor being lowered to a position which will permit the cups to begin the dipping out of the material from the pan A, and in Fig. 1 the vertical leg of the conveyor is substantially at its lowermost point, illustrating that by means of the conveyor, which has been gradually lowered into the pan A, substantially all of the material may be clipped therefrom and conveyed to and discharged into the trough sections 20 and 2 l, and the material transferred thereby to the receiving receptacle, as for example the mold B. As the conveyor is lowered into the pan the bearing plates l5 carrying the shaft l6 and the sprocket wheel ll, are moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1. With the location of the sprocket wheels in the position shown with respect to the vertical leg of the conveyor when it is in the pan A, and the carrying of these sprockets on short shafts, as de-- scribed, the buckets 34 carried by the conveyor chains may move up in between the sprocket wheels 2'l in the course of their travel to the sprocket wheels H and enable me to provide the retrograde movement of the lips of the cups so as to accomplish the pouring of the material therefrom with little or no splashing. I have referred to the fact that the cups 3d are carried outside of the chains so that their center of gravity is removed outwardly from the pitch line of the chains, and locating the sprocket wheels 21 as I do, the pouring lips of these cups, as they ascend on the vertical leg of the conveyor, travel approximately in a vertical line intersecting the axis of the shaft iii. In this manner and with the shape of the cups as shown, as the pouring lips of the cups approach the axes of the shafts 3i and are carried around such axes by the movement of the chains on the sprocket wheels M, the lips of the cups, as shown in Fig. i, will merely idle around the axial point, which causes the pouring to be accomplished with a minimum splash; a point very essential in a device of this character where no external heat is applied and also for the safety of the operator. I have pointed out that with the construction and method of control which I have shown none of the working parts of the conveyor will be submerged into the liquid to be transferred and that only the cups will enter the liquid. The reason for this should be obvious as otherwise the elements of the conveyor would become clogged and the metal solidifying thereon would destroy the usefulness of the conveyor. This is likewise true with respect to the elimination of the splashing of the metal, during pouring, as such splashing would not only clog and render useless the parts of the mechanism which the metal splashes upon, but is also dangerous to the operator.

This apparatus, as pointed out, has been designed for the transfer of molten metals, at elevated temperatures, without the application of additional heat whereby to make the apparatus operative. This means that the design of the apparatus is such that a minimum of heat of the liquid is lost during the transfer. If the working parts had to be enclosed for the application of heat, it should be obvious that this would complicate the servicing of the apparatus and would considerably hinder the operation thereof. When handling liquids near their solidifying point, every attempt must be made to keep the material from splashing or separating into drops, because of extra loss of heat and to keep down deposits on the apparatus by splashing. By designing the pouring positions of the cups, in the manner shown, I materially reduce, if not entirely do away with, the throwing of the liquid when it is discharged into the trough 20 by means of a motion whereby the pouring lips are retarded in relation to the center of gravity of the fluid at the time of pouring.

In the operation of the conveyor and to transfer it from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that position shown in Fig. 1, the operator will place the conveyor in operation through the means and mechanism described, and at the same time by releasing the ratchet 6B and controlling the movement of the crank 58, the tension on the cable is released permitting the forward movement of the bearing plates E5 to permit the descent of the vertical leg of the conveyor. Such tension is caused by the pull of the power unit on the top run of the sprocket chain and as soon as this is released, with the power unit on, bearing plates l5 will move forward on the beams or rails 8 and 9, permitting the vertical leg of the conveyor, with the floating sprocket wheel 26, to descend by weight of gravity from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, or to any intermediate position, determined by the regulation of the ratchet 69 and the control lever 58. On the emptying of a tank, the parts may be restored from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2 by manipulation of the crank 58, which lifts the vertical leg of the conveyor and transfers it into the horizontal position shown in Fig. 2. In this latter position the apparatus may be transferred to a place of storage or utilized for transferring material from some other tank or receptacle, as should be understood.

To provide for the easy and convenient handling of the apparatus, whereby it may be moved from a tank or receptacle to a place of storage or other position, I provide a substantial bail or handling bar 8 l, suitably located with the weight of the apparatus approximately evenly balanced on either side thereof. Any suitable lifting means, as for example a crane, may be employed, with means for engaging the bail or handling bar whereby to raise and lower the apparatus and to move the same from place to place.

As previously pointed out, I have designed the foregoing described apparatus for handling molten metals, but I realize that its usefulness may be extended to other fields of use, as for exam plethe handling of food-stuffs of the cereal type where the contamination of the cereals with grease, grit and dirt from the conveyor chains is to be avoided. Such a conveyor, as I show, where only the cups enter the material, adapts the apparatus for this and other like uses.

What I claim is- 1. In a material transfer apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame, of an elevator including chains and cups, and means for so directing the travel of the chains and cups that at the place of discharge the cups are moved in an arcuate path with the pouring lips of the cups at substantially the axis of the arcuate path throughout the dumping operation, whereby to insure an easy regular flow of the material from the cups.

2. In a transfer apparatus adapted to handle molten metals, the combination with a supporting frame, of an elevator including chains and cups, the latter so supported by the chains that the cups alone will be caused to be immersed in the molten metal to be conveyed thereby protecting the associated parts of the apparatus from contact with the molten metal and freezing of the latter thereon, sprocket wheels arranged to direct the travel of the chains in both horizontal and vertical directions, one set of such sprocket wheels comprising floating sprockets adapted to descend by weight of gravity and another set of such sprockets being located at the place of discharge of the cups for imparting a movement to the cups to discharge the metal at the axis of said sprockets, whereby the pouring of the metal is accomplished with a minimum of splash, a trough to receive the molten metal discharged from the cups, means to operate the conveyor, and means to control the operating descent of the chains and buckets.

3. In a self contained portable material transfer apparatus adapted to be supported on a receptacle for removing material therein, in combination, a supporting frame for resting the apparatus on such a receptacle, a super-structure supported on said supporting frame and including over and under lying pairs of horizontal spaced parallel rails, a portion of said superstructure partially overlying the supporting frame and also extending beyond thereof, a power unit supported on said superstructure, a pair of sprocket wheels having a mounting slidable on said rails, a pair of power sprocket wheels journaled for rotation at the inner ends of said rails, a pair of idler sprocket wheels journaled beneath and near the inner ends of said rails and each carried on a short shaft whereby to leave a travel space between two such sprockets, a pair of conveyor chains connected with said slidable sprocket wheels, said power sprocket wheels and also said idler sprocket wheels, a pair of floating sprocket wheels also engaging said chains and adapted for vertical movement whereby to provide a vertical leg for the conveyor chains in operative position, buckets secured to said chains with their center of gravity located outside of the pitch line of said chains, removable guides for the chains arranged for securement to the upper rails of the superstructure, removable guides for the chains when extended into a vertical leg, a trough carried by said supporting frame and having its receiving end located near said idler sprockets adapted to receive material, at that point, discharged from said buckets, a controlling means in operative connection with said slidable sprocket wheels for controlling the descent of said floating sprockets and said chains, and a reduction gear connection between said power unit and said sprocket wheels for imparting movement to said sprocket chains.

4. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal, comprising a conveyor provided with cups adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, and operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups to a dumping zone including an arcuate surface over which the conveyor will carry the cups at said dumping zone, said arcuate surface having an unobstructed dumping area laterally thereof substantially in line with the axis of said arcuate surface and through which the molten metal will discharge from the cups, whereby contact and freezing of the discharging metal on any part of said conveying and operating means is prevented.

5. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal, comprising a flexible conveyor provided with cups adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, and operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups to a dumping zone, including a rotatable guide wheel for the conveyor at said dumping zone arranged to leave an unobstructed dumping area laterally thereof substantially in line with the axis of said rotatable guide wheel and through which the molten metal will discharge from the cups, whereby contact and freezing of the discharging metal on any part of said conveying and operating means is prevented.

6. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal, comprising a conveyor having opposite flexible members provided with cups supported therebetween, said cups adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, and operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups to a dumping zone including a pair of rotatable guide wheels for the opposite members of the conveyor at said dumping zone, said guide Wheels being arranged to leave an unobstructed dumping .area therebetween substantially in line with the axis of said rotatable guide wheels and through which the molten metal may discharge from the cups, whereby contact and freezing of the discharging metal on any part of said conveying and operating means is prevented.

7. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal, comprising a flexible conveyor provided with cups adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, and operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups to a dumping zone, including a rotatable guide wheel for the conveyor at said dumping zone arranged to leave an unobstructed dumping space laterally thereof substantially in line with the axis of said rotatable guide wheel through which the metal may discharge from the cups, the cups being so arranged with reference to said dumping space that the discharge from the cups will be in an area approximately in line with the center of the rotating guide wheel throughout the dumping operation.

8. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal, comprising a flexible conveyor provided with cups adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups toa dumping zone, including a rotatable guide wheel for the conveyor at said dumping zone arranged to leave an unobstructed dumping space laterally thereof substantially in line with the axis of said rotatable guide wheel through which the metal may discharge from the cups, the cups being so arranged with reference to said dumping space that the discharge from the cups will be in an area approximately in line with the center of the rotating guide wheel throughout the dumping operation, and a trough arranged with its receiving end alongside the rotatable guide wheel to receive the discharge from the cups at said dumping zone.

9. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal comprising a flexible conveyor having oppositely disposed members provided with cups arranged therebetween adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, and operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups to a dumping zone, including spaced rotatable guide wheels for the conveying member at said dumping zone arranged to leave an unobstructed dumping space therebetween substantially in line with the axis of said rotatable guide wheels through which the molten metal may discharge from the cups, the cups being so arranged with reference to said dumping space that the discharge from the cups will be in an area approximately in line with the center of the rotatable guide wheels throughout the dumping operation.

10. In combination, means formed and adapted to convey and dump molten metal comprising a flexible conveyor having oppositely disposed members provided With cups arranged therebetween adapted to dip into and collect a part of a molten mass, operating means for effecting movement of the conveyor and cups to a dumping zone, including spaced rotatable guide wheels for the conveying member at said dumping zone arranged to leave an unobstructed dumping space therebetween substantially in line with the axis of said rotatable guide wheels through which the molten metal may discharge from the cups, the cups being so arranged with reference to said dumping space that the discharge from the cups will be in an area approximately in line with the center of the rotatable guide wheels throughout the dumping operation, and a trough arranged with its receiving end projecting into the space between the rotatable guide wheels to receive the discharge from the cups at the dumping zone.

11. In a transfer apparatus, the combination with a supporting frame, of a conveyor provided with cups, and means for so directing the travel of the conveyor and cups that at the place of discharge the cups are removed in an arcuate path with the pouring lips of the cups at substantially the axis of the .arcuate path throughout the dumping operation.

EARL W. LANGENBERG. 

